Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-05

The base bali season OF 1887 promises to be
more successful than any of its predecessors
The interest Of the public In the game is on the
Increase as the opening OF the season draws near,
and there is but little doubt that the general at
tendance at games will be larger than ever IL the
contests are well played 1t is probable that
they will be, for the managers OF the clubs, par
ticularly Of the two leading organizations, the
National League and the American Association.
are making every effort to strengthen their teams
In order that they may begin the season as well
equipped as possible TO make good showing from
the start and satisfy the public that they play to
WIN. First impressions count for good deal with
the base ball public, and it takes time and hard
work TO recover lost ground The National league.
when Is regarded as the leading organization,
realizing the necessity OF catering to the wishes OF
viii De more ball playing In game and less time
killing: The pitcher hereafter will not be allowed
intended go p aeLo PAT CITATIONS before dereTy
PEELED 10 keep the bah in sight and deliver 1t
wnlie Dotn ieet are on the ground and to confine
himself In his necessary preliminary motions to q
more limited space than heretofore.
NO MORE HIGH AND LOW BALLS.
on the other hand, the batter will not be allowed
10 select the height Of the ball he wishes but must
strike at any ball that comes between the shoulder
ana the knee. 1t Is thought likely that many safe
patteIS VINO can only strike a ball at a certain
height Will be greatly handicapped by this rule,
out ~ Will remove of the difficulties which have
maze the umpire's life miserable. Poor Judgment
III calnng oailS ana strikes has called down upon
many an umpire's head the anathemas OF many an
interested audience, with the effect of disturbing
ns the reand and " varying his Judgment dur,
VIII not be compelled to draw the fine dis
IIncIlon between high ball and a low ball
lille There are other changes in the playing rules
THESE are the most Important and their effect is
AWARDED with a good deal OF interest. some think
that many pitchers when prevented from employ-
Ing their customary hops and skips and twists and
SHIns viii 10 an extent, lose their effectiveness.
Snaw viii probably have more eccentricities OF
fhnu A1rx,
other twirler, 1t would be a sore disap-
polntment TO Washington IL he proves unable
10, 10 90 o, good , work under the new rules. On
lne other hand, ODay will be in no wise
anected by them and he will doubtless be very eff
iectiVe during the coming season. Every club in
the League will start the season with the promise
10 ltS patrons that II IL does win the champion
snip Will be found we'll In the list They always
make that promise, and half OF them as surely
secuIing prayers, poor Judgment OF ability, dis
content OF players and common every day bad
ho eK are tne principal causes OF failure Every
GENTLY equal In strength to make their games real
contests tney Will be well supported.
ATALK WITH PRESIDENT YOUNG.
without doubt the best posted man in the coun-
Try on base ball matters, both by virtue OF his
oilciai position and by the experience, ability and
Judgment, which entities him to hold his position
year after year, is MIR. N. e. Young, of wash
ngt0h tne president OF the league In orderto OBJ
Tam nus views on the subject OF base ball 1887
STAR reporter hunted him up the other day.
There are some things" he said, in reply to
Tn sne reporters inquiries, "that it would not
nc way, but l am satisfied that 1887 will
De the banner base ball season. The ques-
llon or the composition OF the league is a very
muddled one, and would not dare to venture a
prediction beyond certain limits. I am satisfied,
however that everything will be In good running
oruer Wnen the time comes for beginning the sea-
son. think that very likely good many knOtty
questions cannot be answered until after the
league meeting in New York, ON the 18th OF March.
vpN-ar hiatt hora 1riI1t, no
put eight clubs in the League aud that there Will
De one more located in the west besides the Chi
will be in st. Louis Kansas CITY or India no
one can teu at present. There are too many con-
tingenc1es to be taken into consideration The
elsntn cluO. though, will be in or those three
cities. The eastern clubs? Oh! they will not he
disturbed In the least.
WASHINGTON SAFE
"fou can tell the readers OF THE STAR who are
interested in base ball Matters said MIR. Young.
THAT the Washington club is On Just as firm
foundation, as far as its league membership is
concerned, as any club in the league There is
not whit more danger OF its being crowded out
shan there IS OF the Chicagos or New Yorks being
oroppeu Ihere are seven clubs sure in the league,
and there are three cities from which to chose the
eighth club, and the men of two clubs, the st.
LOUIS LOUIS and kansas Citys to form team know
OF the ST. Louis men, but the men cannot be dis
posed Of in that way without the con-
was appointed last september for the
very purpose Of attending to the distribution of
the ST. Louis men when the club was about to dis
was empowered to give then they can give now.
II st. Louis drops out Of the league the men win
noa De Of by the CLUB
mittee will attend to that. And 1t viii be the
same way with Kansas City should it be severed
from the league 1t may be that the New Yorks
have offered s., 600 for Denny, and that st. Louis
has offered to let him go for $1,000, but the deal
cannot be consummated without the consent of
the committee. In would have a
Tor W Washington II 1t had bought out the St Louis
cluD last year before the committee was appointed
WASHINGTON NOT TO BLAME.
sit was not the fault Of the Washington manage
ment that the purchase was not effected, and it
has been very unjustly criticised for the failure
President Lucas did offer TO Sell the St. Louis club
entire TO President Hewett for 3D. COO and presi
dent Hewett accepted the offer and dispatched
representative to st. Louis with a little piece of
paper his possession, good for s12 OOO with which
70 make the purchase. That know positively.
backed and filled, and the deal Amounted tn
nothing. The deal could not have been closed
with Manager Schlneltz, who was here with the st.
reSentatlveS on the ground and began bidding for
Individual players so reckessly that the most eye
orDltant ngures were reached. As much as $751; 600
was offered for one man. In order to keep base
ball from going to eternal smash a special meeting
OF the league was called and halt effected by the
as said is still vested with the power to prevent
an unauthorized disposal OF player"
CHANGES IN THE RULES
"What do you think Of the changes In the rulesqn
asked The STAR man
81 think they will prove beneficial all roundp
was the reply. ITO be sure It NAV be diff1cnIt t
nrSt Tor the players TO accustOm themselves tn
them 1 think the batters will be more affected
than the pitchers. All these premOnitory motions
In the box have but little to do with the efecIiye
ness OF the delivery and in very little while the
pitchers will be able to curb the impulse TO make
wlndIn1llS OF themselves and will be delivering a
matter OF fact ball. nearly, III quite as effective
as ever. AT any rate they will all or nearly ali be
affected alike. Radbourn, perhaps ought to be ex-
cepted, for the new rules won't trouble him Even
Shaw, think, viii be seen quietly sending fin one
box. 1 have seen him do 1t often and SO have Won
He can do his little pebble kicking act out
side the box, and he will in no Woy
De prevented from entering his box from the far
end as he always insists upon doing think tt will
be different, however, with the batters, at least a
the country have been for years hitting a bali OF
certain height. The habit Is so strong with them
that they can't touch any other kind OF a hall
Arson told me recently that he never hit a low
bail In his life. These are the men think who
Will be effected most when compelled to strike at
Knee ball when they want 1t at the shoulder or
vice versa IL will take time for them to get used
70 the change. Their ability to hit a ball when
they get II at the exact height they want it. and
their knowing in time when IL is at that height is
part OF their success as good batterS. The Change
on the other hand, i think will be a benefit reia
lively u the younger players who have not become
by years OF habit so particular as TO height, and
whose premature Judgment leads them 10 strike AT
balls both high and low"
THE HOME TEAM UNDERRArRp.
"What do you think OF the prospects of the home
han